7.2.5 The Media
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7.2.5 The Media
Are people becoming more alike because of globalization?
©Ed Kashi/National Geographic Stock
What is the media? Talk of the media usually means talking about the mass media, or any form of communication used to reach a large number of people. Newspapers, television, radio, and the Internet are the main forms of the media today, but magazines, banners, billboards, films, books, CDs, DVDs, and computer games are other forms. The media are used in many ways - to entertain, to educate, to inform, and to spread ideas and concepts to large numbers of people.
The first use of the media as a form of mass communication was probably early dramas in the ancient world. Crowds of thousands watched plays performed in open-air amphitheatres in ancient Greece, for example. Technology has always had an important role in the development of the media.
The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg about 1450 revolutionized the spread of ideas because the printed word could be spread to a large audience. At first, books such as the Bible were printed, but soon newspapers and magazines were used to communicate with the masses. Later came the telephone, the movie theatre, the radio, the television, the cellphone, and the Internet.
The first use of the media as a form of mass communication was probably early dramas in the ancient world. Crowds of thousands watched plays performed in open-air amphitheatres in ancient Greece, for example. Technology has always had an important role in the development of the media.
The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg about 1450 revolutionized the spread of ideas because the printed word could be spread to a large audience. At first, books such as the Bible were printed, but soon newspapers and magazines were used to communicate with the masses. Later came the telephone, the movie theatre, the radio, the television, the cellphone, and the Internet.
The powerful effect of the media: Modern technology has changed the face of the media. We join as a world community to be entertained by sporting events; the media unite us when tragic world events occur.
A powerful force in today's world, the media give us shared access to the global village. They can shape our views and ideas.
All forms of the media, similar to all pieces of writing, photos, or paintings, are produced by people. Those people invest time and money to produce the television you watch or the video games you play. They use specialized skills and techniques to create their material and convey their messages.
Some things to remember about the media:
What effect do the media have on identities?
We cannot be everywhere and see everything with our own eyes. The media help us learn more about the world. They show us how people in other parts of the world live. They give us the news and help us to understand big ideas. They can help us understand the perspectives of others. They can give us an identity that we share with others when we cheer for our favourite teams in the Stanley Cup or cheer Canadian athletes at the Olympics. The media can help us understand our own culture and how we belong. They can show us what is normal —€“ at least from the point of view of the media producer. That might mean buying a new vehicle every year, eating convenience food, taking drugs for real or imagined ailments, or buying new clothes to stay in fashion.
The media do not always encourage us to think critically about our actions and their effect on sustainable prosperity for all.
Who controls the media in our globalizing world? Sometimes the media, especially the news media, are called the corporate media or the mainstream media because most radio and television networks and newspaper chains are owned by national or transnational for-profit corporations. Look at this chart to see who owns the global media.
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Soccer's World Cup is watched by over a billion people.
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When the World Trade Center was attacked on September 11, 2001, or during the Ebola outbreak in 2018, the media informed us of developments and provided us with information about how to help.
A powerful force in today's world, the media give us shared access to the global village. They can shape our views and ideas.
All forms of the media, similar to all pieces of writing, photos, or paintings, are produced by people. Those people invest time and money to produce the television you watch or the video games you play. They use specialized skills and techniques to create their material and convey their messages.
Some things to remember about the media:
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Whether you are watching TV, listening to the radio, or viewing a video on YouTube, remember that what you are seeing, reading, and hearing did not simply happen. A person or a group of people produced what you are seeing and/or hearing, and they did that for a reason.
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The message in the medium can be implicit or explicit. It can be a commercial message or a value message by the director of the medium who wants you to think a certain way, buy a certain product, or accept an idea or way of life.
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You develop your own understanding based on what you already know and understand. You bring your own perspective to your understanding of the message.
Reflect
What effect do the media have on identities?
We cannot be everywhere and see everything with our own eyes. The media help us learn more about the world. They show us how people in other parts of the world live. They give us the news and help us to understand big ideas. They can help us understand the perspectives of others. They can give us an identity that we share with others when we cheer for our favourite teams in the Stanley Cup or cheer Canadian athletes at the Olympics. The media can help us understand our own culture and how we belong. They can show us what is normal —€“ at least from the point of view of the media producer. That might mean buying a new vehicle every year, eating convenience food, taking drugs for real or imagined ailments, or buying new clothes to stay in fashion.
The media do not always encourage us to think critically about our actions and their effect on sustainable prosperity for all.
Who controls the media in our globalizing world? Sometimes the media, especially the news media, are called the corporate media or the mainstream media because most radio and television networks and newspaper chains are owned by national or transnational for-profit corporations. Look at this chart to see who owns the global media.